Atchafalaya River Basin

Wetlands store and filter waters flowing from the Atchafalaya River into the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to providing critical wildlife habitat, the Atchafalaya River Basin functions as a flood relief outlet and important filter for the Mississippi River, slowing its flow and trapping nutrients and pollution to improve water quality before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Delivering clean, fresh water to the coast fuels the creation of unique wetland habitats that oysters and other aquatic species need to thrive. This process also deposits sediments that are key to growing the deltas in Atchafalaya Bay and Wax Lake, the only instance of coastal land building in Louisiana.

TNC takes the lead on protecting and restoring the Atchafalaya.

In response, The Nature Conservancy is working to cultivate an enduring appreciation for the Atchafalaya River Basin for generations to come. Through land acquisition, we have an opportunity to access more places to pursue on-the-ground monitoring and land stewardship. We are also working with local communities on cultivating a culture of restoration and with partners and scientists in the conservation and academic communities on exploring cutting-edge approaches to complex issues surrounding the conservation of such a vast and diverse swamp forest.

Science helps TNC and partners identify conservation priorities in the Atchafalaya River Basin.

TNC is also working with partners on advancing the latest science to study the Atchafalaya River Basin on land, in the water and up in the air. For example, the Atchafalaya is a critical stop-over for a variety of bird species that arrive to rest and refuel during migration. In response and thanks to technology furnished by the University of Oklahoma and land provided by A. Wilbert’s Sons, TNC set up doppler radar on a trailer situated in a sugar cane field to monitor bird species visiting the Atchafalaya during spring and fall migration. The data collected will confirm the importance of this habitat to bird populations while informing TNC's future conservation efforts in the region.

In addition to informing TNC's work in the Atchafalaya, this monitoring effort is also part of a more extensive study led by the U.S. Geological Survey to analyze how a changing climate and sea levels are impacting important stop-over habitats for migratory birds. Since the radar can track a flock of birds in real time and across great distances, the data—which is analyzed by a TNC Conservation Fellow studying at the University of Delaware—will provide valuable information about the birds and their patterns throughout the southeast and beyond.